NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 7/20/19 - 7/21/19

 New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, July 20 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Nike Missile Radar Site Tours

Guided tours of the Integrated Fire Control (IFC) site will allow you to see the inner workings of the facility where supersonic nuclear armed Nike Hercules missiles were controlled and guided using Cold War era computers and radars. You will have the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the veterans who actually worked on the Nike Air Defense System. Free tours from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Meet at Horseshoe Cove, Parking Lot L on Sandy Hook, part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Saturday, July 20 - Tabernacle, Burlington County
Lunar Landing Picnic at the New Jersey State Museum
Family Friendly

Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with a picnic on the New Jersey State Museum lawn! Guests are invited to bring a picnic to enjoy on the Museum's front lawn (a limited amount of food will be available for purchase) while enjoying music and more. The Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton will be on hand with several telescopes for solar observing. In the event of inclement weather, the event will move inside the Museum.

The Planetarium will have two programs at the special price of $5 each. Showing at 6:00 pm will be CapCom Go!, and at 7:00 pm will be Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" laser show.

While you're here, make sure you visit Many Inspired Steps on the Museum's second floor. The exhibition recounts the space race between the United States and former Soviet Union and features an actual space suit and more!

The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. Suggested museum admission donation of $5. For more information, call 609-292-6300 or visit www.state.nj.us/state/museum.

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Saturday, July 20 - Chester, Morris County
Nature Art
Children Friendly Event

Use grains and natural items collected around the Cooper Gristmill to create artwork. Explore painting, printmaking, rubbings, collage, and other art techniques. This event takes place from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

The gristmill is open from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. The last guided tour of the gristmill begins at 3:30 pm. The suggested donation to tour the Gristmill is $3 per adult, $2 per senior (65+), and $1 per child age 4 - 16. FREE per child under age 4, and Friends of Fosterfields and Cooper Mill members with a current membership card. The Cooper Gristmill is located at 66 Route 513, Chester, NJ. For more information, call 908-879-5463 or visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, July 20 - Madison, Morris County
Madison’s Contributions to World War I

On Saturday at 10:30 am in the Chase Room of the Madison Public Library, listen to Jim Malcolm of the Madison Historical Society present Madison’s Contributions to World War I. Hear the stories behind some of the 300+ names on Madison’s WWI monument. Learn about the activities on the Home Front and on the front lines to support the war effort. Uncover the role of immigrants, Four Minute Men, Hello Girls, and Peach Pits in winning the war. This program is free. For more information, visit www.madisonnjhistoricalsociety.org.

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Saturday, July 20 - Holmdel, Monmouth County
Cookstove Demonstration
Children Friendly Site & Event

On Saturday, visit Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel to see what is cooking on the woodstove in the out kitchen. Discover how food, receipts, cooking techniques, and the kitchen itself has changed since the 1890s. This free event runs from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Historic Longstreet Farm is located at 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ. For more information, call 732-946-3758 or visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

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Saturday, July 20 - Dover, Morris County
Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Dover

Narrated walking tours of historic areas of Downtown Dover are among the most popular events presented by the Dover Area Historical Society. All are welcome to join us on such a tour led by our museum curator, Rick Kelly, on Saturday beginning at 10:00 am at our Museum House, 55 W. Blackwell Street, Dover, NJ (next to the First Memorial Presbyterian Church) Rain or shine, wear comfortable shoes and rain gear or sunscreen as necessary. Parking in the lots behind the museum and church.

This year, Rick will show participants a new addition to our walking tour, the Pierson Block, which is 79-89 W. Blackwell Street. Constructed in 1887, the building is a rare remaining example of 19th century row house architecture. A viaduct, which was built in 1905 to protect from a dangerous rail crossing, blocks the view and many Doverites seldom notice this hidden treasure.

In addition to showing you the Pierson building, Rick will tell you about the Ulster Iron Works, Bassett Highway’s changes over the years, The Moller Opera House, The Dover Fire Department, The Dover Dogs, stop in front of the Dover Library to discuss the canal basin and visit some of our beautiful churches, with a final stop at the Story Poles before returning to the museum. The tour will last approximate 90 minutes to 2 hours. We hope can join us to hear some of Rick’s interesting stories about Dover in days past! For more information, visit www.dovernjhistory.org.

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Saturday, July 20 -  Morris Township, Morris County
Egg Carton Model Ts
Children Friendly Event and Site

Get ready for Model T Day by designing and constructing your own Model T with egg cartons, buttons, and markers on Saturday at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm from 2:00 - 4:30 pm.

Admission: $6 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+); $4 for children ages 4 – 16; and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Saturday, July 20 - Titusville, Mercer County

Songs and Stories of the American Revolution Performed by Matthew Dodd

Dressed in colonial clothing and performing rousing period songs and stories, Matthew Dodd will take you back in time to the days of the American Revolution. Mr. Dodd sings and plays the guitar, banjo, mandolin and recorder throughout the show. The performance will take place at 2:00 pm at the Visitor Center Museum at Washington Crossing State Park in Titusville, NJ. The Visitor Center Museum’s auditorium can hold approximately 60 people on a first come basis. A $5 per vehicle park entrance fee applies.

The Visitor Center Museum will be open from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm featuring The Swan Historical Foundation’s Collection of 500+ Colonial and Revolutionary War artifacts.

The Visitor Center Museum can be reached from I-95 by taking the Trenton/Lambertville Exit (this is the first exit in N.J. heading north and the last exit heading south). Head north on Route 29 for two and a half miles and turn right at the first traffic light. The park entrance will be on your left in a half mile. Enter the park and follow the signs to the Visitor Center Museum. For more information call 609-737-0623.

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Saturday, July 20 - Hopewell Township, Mercer County

Evening Hayrides
Children Friendly Event

On Saturday evening, Howell Living History Farm will have hayrides that last 20 minutes, carrying visitors over the lanes of the 130 acre working farm. During the program, visitors can also take self-guided tours, picnic in the picnic area and join a marshmallow roast.

Rides will leave the barnyard area every 20 minutes beginning at 5:15 pm, with the last ride departing at 8:00 pm. Rides will be given on a first come, first serve basis to the first 150 visitors. Rides are intended for individual and family participation; groups cannot be accommodated. There is no charge for the wagon rides.

A wheelchair accessible wagon is also available. Individuals who would like to ride on this wagon should call 609-737-3299 in advance, and ask for Kathy. On the dates when evening hayrides are offered, the Farm will be closed during the day.

Howell Living Farm represents typical farm life between 1890 and 1910. The farm is operated by the Mercer County Parks Commission. It is located at 70 Wooden's Lane, Lambertville, NJ. For more information. call 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org.

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Saturdays through August 31 - Hardwick, Warren County

1800s Village Life at Millbrook
Family Friendly

Stroll at your leisure through Millbrook Village.  Several buildings are open and staffed with rangers and volunteers demonstrating traditional skills and reminiscing about 1800s life in the village. The village will be open from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Millbrook Village is part of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Millbrook Village is located in Hardwick Township, NJ at the intersection of Old Mine Road and Millbrook Road, County Route 602N.  For more information and directions, call 908-841-9531, 908-537-2544, or 973-875-3461 or visit their Facebook page.

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Saturday, July 20 - Cape May, Cape May County
Underground Railroad Trolley Tour

On Saturday at 10:00 am, join the Center for Community Arts' (CCA) Community History Committee on a trolley tour of the places where escaped slaves sought refuge and help to continue their journeys to freedom. Hear the stories and visit some of the places connected with the Underground Railroad, including: a look at the Owen Coachman House; a walk in a historic cemetery where our earliest free Black settlers are buried; and a glimpse of the summer home of Stephen Smith, a leading businessman, abolitionist and unsung hero of the Underground Railroad. Learn how Harriet Tubman found Cape May as a resource for earning money to fund her work. Board the trolley at the Washington Street Mall information booth at Ocean Street for this 2-hour tour. Admission is $25 per adult. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday, July 20 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape Mayhem & Victorian Oddities Trolley Tour

They Did What??!! Headless Photography? Electric Corsets? Coffin Torpedoes? Explore some of the strange beliefs, superstitions, oddities,  fads, curiosities, and mysteries from the end of the 19th century - the Victorian era - in this half hour trolley tour through the gaslit streets of Cape May. Hear stories from Cape May’s history that are bizarre, unexplained or just downright weird! This Saturday tour at 8:30 and 9:30 pm begins and ends at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Ocean Street. Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturdays through August 31, 2019  - Cape May Point, Cape May County
The Keeper's on Duty
Children Friendly Event

What's it like to be a Lighthouse Keeper?  If you’d like the answer to this question and others, join us for The Keeper's On Duty, at the Education Center at Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) on Saturday at 1:15 pm. The Keeper of the Cape May Lighthouse presents an informative and entertaining half hour talk on the history and lore of the famous 1859 Cape May Lighthouse. Suited for everyone from children to lighthouse buffs, it’s the perfect introduction to your lighthouse climb! All Keeper's on Duty are free and open to the public. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and Cape May Point State Park. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturdays through August 31, 2019 - Cape May Point, Cape May County
Lighthouse Storytime
Children Friendly Event

Bring your young children to the Education Center in Cape May Point State Park (adjacent to the Cape May Lighthouse) to listen to nautical tales and lighthouse adventure stories on Saturday at 12:30 pm. Free admission. Cape May Point State Park is located at 215 Light House Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ. Co-sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and Cape May Point State Park. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Emlen Physick Estate Tour
Family Friendly Tour

Take a guided tour of Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate, the magnificent Stick Style mansion attributed to renowned Victorian architect Frank Furness. A tour of the 15 beautifully restored rooms gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle of this Victorian-era Cape May family. Physick Estate Tours take approximately 45 minutes and end with a visit to the 1876 Carriage House where you can see the current exhibit in the Carroll Gallery. Tours will be at 1:45 and 3:00 pm on Saturday and 12:30, 1:45, and 3:00 pm on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Tickets can be purchased at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour

This tour is designed for the first-time visitor to Cape May who wants a quick introduction to the many cultural, historical, and natural attractions on the island. From Cape May Harbor to Sunset Beach, tourgoers will learn all they need to know to make the most of their Cape May visit. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Tours on Saturday at 12:30, 3:00, and 4:45 pm and Sunday at 11:00 am, 1:30, and 6:30 pm. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Family Friendly Site

On Saturday, the Cape May Lighthouse, Oil House and Museum Shop reopens for the season. The lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 9:00 am - 8:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Physick Estate Scavenger Hunt
Family Friendly

Have an adventure the whole family will enjoy at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate! Use our map to explore the grounds and find the answers to questions about the Physick family and life in Victorian times on this educational scavenger hunt. Turn in your answer sheet at the Carriage House Museum Shop and receive a prize!

$5 includes map and clues. Maps and clues available at the Hill House office or the Carriage House Visitors Center at the Emlen Physick Estate. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Cape May Historic District Trolley Tour

Enjoy a 45 minute guided tour with entertaining and enlightening stories about the nation's oldest seaside resort and how it survived. Accessible trolley available with advance notification. Tours begin and end at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.

Adults $15 and children (ages 3-12) $8. Tours on Saturday at 10:30 am, 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:30 pm, and 6:00 pm and Sunday at 11:45 am, 1:00 pm, 2:15 pm, and 3:00 pm. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Lower Township, Cape May County
World War II Tower Lookout Museum and Memorial Open
Family Friendly Site

Fire Control Tower No. 23 on Sunset Boulevard is New Jersey's last freestanding World War II tower, part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles. After an award-winning restoration in 2009, visitors can climb to the 6th floor spotting gallery while learning about the homeland defense efforts during World War II. The ground floor of the tower, the All Veterans Memorial, and boardwalk interpretive panels are fully accessible. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children (ages 3-12) (one child free with paying adult). The World War II Lookout Tower is located on Sunset Boulevard in Lower Township, near Cape May Point. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Cape May, Cape May County
Railroad Days at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly Event & Site

All aboard! Historic Cold Spring Village’s Annual Railroad Days will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm. Railroad Days is the perfect outing for folks interested in railroad history, model and toy trains, or just enjoying a unique collection in a unique historical setting.

In the Village Welcome Center, under the Friends’ Pavilion, and along the Village’s shady lanes, visitors will find presentations and displays from a variety of groups.

Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines Model RR Club is taking over the Welcome Center and the Atlantic County 4H Train Club will set up a display in the Friend’s Pavilion for you viewing enjoyment. Dave Calvert, in the Taylor Poultry Building will display his G scale trains including a handmade Hell's Gate Bridge, a colorful circus train and antique buildings constructed as early as the 1890. At 2:00 pm in the Welcome Center on Saturday, Merrill Miller, HCSV Interpreter, will present a talk on Richard Trevithick, the little-known inventor of the modern steam locomotive. The South Jersey Engine Club will feature a variety of their two-stroke engine wonders.

Take a ride on a "speeder," gasoline-powered railroad track inspection vehicles, provided by the Volunteer Railroaders Association, on the original Cape May Seashore Line railroad tracks located on the east (US Route 9) side of the Village. After purchase of admission, the speeders require an additional $5 for adults and $3 for children (3-12). Speeder will operate beginning at 10:15 am, with the last ride of the days at 3:45 pm. Visitors may also enjoy a tractor hayride around the Village from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. Tuesday through Sunday, from late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through September.

The Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. Admission during the season is $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner's Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10, or visit www.hcsv.org.

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Saturday - Sunday, July 20 - 21 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Battery Potter and Mortar Battery Tours

Meet with park staff to tour two historic batteries at Sandy Hook this weekend.

Battery Potter: Explore and tour Sandy Hook's oldest disappearing gun battery.  This is also the first concrete gun battery that was built in America, completed in 1895. 

Mortar Battery: Join a park ranger guided tour of the Mortar Battery and learn about the first Endicott era (1894 - 1910) concrete gun battery that defended New York and its harbor against attack by enemy warships.

These free tours begin at 1:00 pm for Battery Potter and at 1:30 pm for Mortar Battery. All tours run continuously until 4:30 pm. They are located with the Fort Hancock Historic Post at Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook is part of Gateway National Recreation Area. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Sunday, July 21 - Montague, Sussex County
Montague Open Houses and Tours

MARCH, the Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History, is pleased to announce that both its museum sites will be open on Sunday. The Foster-Armstrong House and the Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse will be open to the public from 1:00 - 4:00 pm for museum house tours. Tours will be held every 30 minutes and docents will be available at both sites to guide you through our local history and artifact collections.

The Foster-Armstrong House, circa 1790, a two story Dutch colonial, is located on SC521/ 320 River Road, about 1 mile north of the Milford/Montague Bridge. It is listed on the State Historic Register of NJ and is a National Historic Register Site. Ten rooms are set up with local history displays in each room. Rooms contain an original bee hive oven, native Indian artifacts, Duke Mortimer's Dramatic Art Workshop collection, a military room, a quilt room and to scale model covered bridges of the northeast United States.

At the Foster-Armstrong House, Cindy Colianni will be demonstrating Hand Spinning Wool. She will be presenting from 1:00 - 4:00 pm while tours of the house are conducted. 

The Nelden-Roberts Stonehouse, circa 1820, is located at 501 Route 206 North, about 1 mile south of the Milford/Montague Bridge. It is listed on the State Historic Register on New Jersey. The first floor is set up as a schoolhouse, which is what the building was originally built for. The second floor has a schoolmaster's bedroom and native Indian artifacts.

Both museums are located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/MontagueNJHistory.

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Sunday, July 21 - Morris Township, Morris County
Hook, Line, and Sinker!
Children Friendly Event & Site

On Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, cast a fishing line at the pond to see if anything is biting at the pond. Catch of the day will be tossed back. All materials provided.

Admission: $6/adult, $5/senior (65+), $4/child (ages 4 -16), $2/child (2 and 3). FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members, with a current membership card. Fosterfields Living Historical Farm is located at 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown, NJ. For more information, visit www.morrisparks.net.

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Sunday, July 21 - West Orange, Essex County
Geothermal Tour at the Glenmont Estate

Go "behind the scenes" at the Edison home. Join a guide for a walk through the basement of the famous house and learn about its new geothermal heating and cooling system. This program will last about 30 minutes at take place at 1:00 pm. It focuses on the technical aspects of the environmentally friendly geothermal system. The basement is not wheelchair accessible.

The tour is included with regular admission. Tickets must be purchased at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park Laboratory Complex Visitor Center at 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ. Admission is $15.00 for adults, and includes the Glenmont Estate and the Laboratory Complex. Children under age 16 are free. For more information, call 973-736-0550 x33 or visit www.nps.gov/edis.

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Sunday, July 21 - River Edge, Bergen County
Summertime Tours and Kite Flying
Children Friendly Event & Site

On Sunday, Historic New Bridge Landing will be open for tours. Visit Bergen County's Premier Historic Site. All 3 Jersey-Dutch sandstone houses, including the Steuben House, a state historic site, are connected by an ADA compliant gravel walking path. The Westervelt-Thomas Barn will be open. Take-away kite making project included for children and kite flying in the Meadow if conditions are right.

Admission: $12 adults, $7 students, BCHS members free. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201-1209 Main Street, River Edge, NJ. Free parking available or take a train on the Pascack Valley Line from Secaucus via NJ Transit to the New Bridge Landing Train stop. For more information, visit www.bergencountyhistory.org.

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Sunday, July 21 - Princeton, Mercer County
Historic Princeton Walking Tour
Children Friendly Tour

Enjoy a 1.9 mile, two-hour walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Bainbridge House, Nassau Hall, the University Chapel, and Palmer Square. The early history of Princeton, the founding of the University, and the American Revolution are just some of the stories from Princeton’s history that you will learn on your tour.

Admission: $7 per adult; $4 children ages 6 to 12; free for children age 5 and under. Tours begin in front of the Bainbridge House, 158 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ. Tour begins at 2:00 pm and ends at 4:00 pm. Walk up ticket sales are cash only; guides cannot provide change. Space is limited. For more information and to reserve tickets, call 609-921-6748 or visit www.princetonhistory.org.

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Sunday, July 21 - Trenton, Mercer County
Pittsburgh's Lost Outpost: Captain Trent's Fort

The Trent House Association hosts Jason Cherry, author of a recently published account of Captain William Trent as he led a militia company to establish a fort on the far frontier of the English colonies in the 1750s. The program will begin at 12:30 pm on Sunday at the 1719 William Trent House.

In the year 1754, before a young George Washington would set the world on fire, trader William Trent, son of William Trent of Trent's Town at the Falls of the Delaware, and his hired volunteers would begin an outpost at the Forks of the Ohio. This would not only lay the foundation for the conflict known as the Seven Years War in Europe and the French and Indian War in the colonies, but also began the early remnants of the city we know today as Pittsburgh. In his book, Pittsburgh's Lost Outpost: Captain Trent's Fort, author Jason Cherry reveals new details about Trent's foray at the frontier of the English colonies and pieces together Trent's eventual role in American history. In addition to the talk and book signing, visitors can tour the 300th year-old house built by Captain Trent's father, which includes the bedroom of his young son who lived here as a child, and view the silk vest that the younger William Trent wore to the Court of St. James in July 1759.

Tickets are $8 for Trent House Association Members and $10 for general admission; tickets can be purchased at the door. Light refreshments will be served. 

The William Trent House is located at 15 Market Street, Trenton, NJ, across from the Hughes Justice Complex. There is plenty of free off-street parking. For more information, visit www.williamtrenthouse.org.

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Sunday, July 21 - Montclair, Essex County

Open Houses - CANCELLED DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT
Children Friendly Event & Site

Get to know ALL of the Montclair History Center's historic houses in one afternoon! Discover the people whose "many voices" and life stories shaped our community, and travel through the ages with the Crane House and Historic YWCA. Hear about the evolution of our young country from New Jersey's point of view, and learn of a unique story set during a time when the nation was embroiled in the Civil Rights.

Visit our community farm to learn more about our agricultural past, and don't forget to say hello to our happy brood of chickens! 

Your visit then continues to the elegant Shultz House, an amazing, fully-intact time capsule that takes you away to life in the early 20th century. A home chock full of original character, visitors can linger in a classic library full of vintage science instruments, admire Delft handiwork imported from the Netherlands, and marvel at the beautifully crafted woodwork.

Tours of the Crane House & Historic YWCA are on the hour, last tour at 3:00 pm. Tours of the Shultz House are on the half hour, last tour 3:30 pm. Admission is $6/adult; $5/student/senior with ID; $4/child; under 2 free, good for both sites. Member get in free! The Crane House/Historic YWCA is located at 110 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ and the Shultz House is located at 30 North Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ. For more information, call 973-744-1796, e-mail mail@montclairhistorical.org, or visit www.montclairhistory.org.

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Sunday, July 21 - Nutley, Essex County

Ice Cream Sunday at the Kingsland Manor

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Sunday, July 21 - Sandy Hook, Monmouth County

Going Bunkers: Nine Gun Battery

Explore with a park ranger, the longest concrete gun battery built by the U.S. Army in the United States for harbor defense. When construction began in 1897, the battery was originally intended to mount three 10-inch caliber disappearing guns, but when construction was completed in 1904 an additional six 12-inch caliber disappearing guns were emplaced, creating a nine gun battery that operated until 1944. Bring a flashlight and walking shoes. The tour starts at 6:00 pm and lasts approximately one and a half hours. Call the Sandy Hook Visitor Center at 732-872-5970 to make a reservation. For more information, call 732-872-5970 or visit www.nps.gov/gate.

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Sunday, July 21 & 28 - Bridgeton, Cumberland County
Potter's Tavern Open House

The Cumberland County Historical Society is excited to announce that the Potter’s Tavern will be open from 1:00 - 4:00 pm on Sundays, July 14, 21, and 28. We hope you will join us for a tour of this historical building and explore one of the County’s oldest preserved landmarks. The Tavern is located at 51 West Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ.

Tavern keeper, Matthew Potter, Jr. came to Bridgeton from Philadelphia and opened the tavern in 1773. It became a favorite meeting place for the local young men just before the Revolutionary War. Today, it is one of New Jersey’s most significant historical shrines and is an excellent example of the type of frame houses built in New Jersey during the 17th and 18th century. It was here that the Plain Dealer, Cumberland County’s pioneer newspaper, was published for the purpose of supporting the drive for American liberty from the Crown rule. The fact that Matthew Potter gave a home to the Plain Dealer placed him in personal danger, risking a charge of treason during this time. The distinguished historian, John T. Cunningham, said that the fact the Plain Dealer appeared every Tuesday morning probably made it New Jersey’s first regular “newspaper.”

For more information, call the office of the Cumberland County Historical Society at 856-455-8580.

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Through Sunday, November 3 - Cape May, Cape May County
The Iconic Cape May Lighthouse Exhibit
Family Friendly

Illuminating the darkness over the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay for 160 years, Cape May’s lighthouse is the third beacon to guide mariners through the tumultuous waters at the confluence of the ocean and bay. Memories and historic images abound, from the keepers who dedicated their lives to maintaining the light, the MAC preservationists who restored it, and all those who’ve relied upon it for more than a century and a half.

This exhibit will be held at the Carroll Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate. Admission to the exhibit is free. Visit www.capemaymac.org/carriage-house-hours for exhibit hours. The Emlem Physick Estate is located at 1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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Through November 11, 2019 - Woodbury, Gloucester County
War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day

War to End Wars: Centennial of WWI & Veterans’ Day, our new exhibit at the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum, honors the centennial of World War I and its veterans.  Come view uniforms worn by local, youthful doughboys as well as original liberty bond and enlistment posters carefully preserved by our librarians for over one hundred years! The exhibit also honors veterans of all wars since World War I as Americans now celebrate the day the war ended as Veterans’ Day. The exhibit is now open and will run through Veterans’ Day. The exhibit will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. The museum is also open on the last Sunday of each month September through April from 2:00 - 5:00 pm as well as Saturdays April 6 and May 4 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Please visit www.gchsnj.org for further details. The Gloucester County Historical Society Museum is located at 58 N. Broad Street, Woodbury, NJ. For more information, call 856-848-8531 or visit www.gchsnj.org.

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Through December 2019 - Ridgewood, Bergen County
Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions

Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue. Tossing the bouquet. Bride and Groom cake toppers. Putting a sixpence in your shoe. Where did these traditions originate? Why do we still honor them today? Please join us as we walk down the aisle and trace the history of Ridgewood’s wedding traditions.

The Schoolhouse Museum celebrates the opening of its current featured exhibit “Here Comes The Bride - Chronicling Two Hundred Years of Wedding Customs & Traditions.” This new exhibit features items dating from 1789-1989, showcasing many beautiful wedding gowns from the museum's collection - some of which have never been on exhibit before.

While at the museum, see the curio cabinet exhibit “50 Small Things with Big Histories.” The exhibits are open until December 2019 and are free to the public with donations suggested at the door. Museum hours are Thursdays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 pm and Sundays from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The Schoolhouse Museum is a historic one-room schoolhouse in Ridgewood, New Jersey, originally built in 1872, that has been turned into a gallery space which now houses the Ridgewood Historical Society. Entirely volunteer-run, the non-profit Historical Society presents annual exhibits, events and workshops in a community that values education, family and local and national history. The museum is located at 650 E Glen Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.

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Through Sunday, January 5, 2020 - Parsippany, Morris County
The American Arts and Crafts Chair: “A Message of Honesty and Joy”

The exhibition will feature thirteen exemplary examples of side chairs by handicraft-oriented furniture manufacturers--among them Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Workshops, the L&JG Stickley Company, the Charles P. Limbert Company--as well as smaller, craft-oriented workshops such as Charles Rohlfs, the Roycroft Shops, Byrdcliffe Arts Colony, and Rose Valley Association. The exhibition will explore the usefulness and appealing designs of these vital products of the American Arts and Crafts movement and show how these chairs brought a message of honesty and joy to their makers and their possessors. Guest curator is David Cathers. 

On view from: Saturday, June 1, 2019 to Sunday, January 5, 2020. Thursdays through Sundays 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm. Admission varies depending on the type of tour. Free to Members. Craftsman Farms is located at 2352 Route 10 West, Morris Plains, NJ. For more information, call 973-540-0311, email info@stickleymuseum.org, or visit www.stickleymuseum.org.

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Through June 28, 2020 -  Piscataway, Middlesex County
Mid-Century New Jersey Exhibit

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Some event listings courtesy of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey